Kensuke: Whew, we're back...
Hiyoko: I'm really tired... I want to take a bath.
Kensuke: Let's visit the bath at Kuon's mansion today. Bathing in the well won't be enough to get rid of this fatigue.
Hiyoko: Yay! That's the best reward, boss!
Kensuke: Okay, let's leave our stuff here...
Koroko: Welcome back, boss, Hiyo! Jeez, I was really worried about you since you came back later than promised!
Kensuke: Sorry. We got delayed by examining western and eastern Mino.
Hiyoko: Hehe, but we managed to get a good understanding of Mino's current state!
Kensuke: Right. This should be pretty useful for Kuon.
Koroko: That's quite an achievement! Good job, boss!
Kensuke: Thanks... huh? Where's Wanko?
Koroko: That's... apparently, she came to Mino abandoning her horo squad despite being a red horo squad leader. She's been getting punished by Mitsuki-sama for a while now.
Hiyoko: What kind of punishment is it?
Koroko: She has to calculate salary for all horo squads, acting as a subordinate of treasurers.
Hiyoko: Hee... but, does that count as a punishment? #That would've been a really useful punishement in Koihime...#
Koroko: Ahaha, Wanko-chan is really bad with numbers, unlike Hiyo. #This for Shunran and physical labor for Keifa or Miu#
Hiyoko: I see... but it's useful to be able to calculate things, so it will be of use for Wanko-chan.
Kensuke: Mitsuki-san probably had that in mind when she made her do it. #Every character in this faction so far is really good to have around#
Koroko: She's a strict but gentle person. Well then, let's not stand here talking, leave your stuff and let's go eat at the diner.
Hiyoko: Eat! Yeah, I'm hungry!
Kensuke: I haven't eaten anything warm in a while... okay, wait a bit. I'll be ready soon.
I entered my room, put down my luggage and wiped my body with a wet towel to clean off the travel dirt.
We visit it a lot, Owari's diner. A man skilled at cooking making delicious food, and a waitress named Kiyo-chan always welcoming us cheerfully.
It's been awhile, but Hiyo, Koro and I are talking at the usual dining table. #That waitress is a unique character with voice and appearance#
Kensuke: By the way, we met Takenaka-san at Mino.
Hiyoko and Koroko: Eh?!
Kensuke: Eh?! Hiyo, you haven't noticed?
Hiyoko: Y, yes... umm, when did we meet her?
Kensuke: About the time when we left Mino. Remember the girl introducing herself as Shino?
Hiyoko: Ah, that slightly weird girl... eeh?! Wait, that was Takenaka-san?!
Kensuke: Yeah. I have no proof, but it was probably her... and she knew us too.
Koroko: I'm glad you're safe, boss, after meeting Takenaka-san, the mastermind behind the capture of Inabayama castle...
Kensuke: She wasn't hostile. But... I'm not sure if meeting her was for better or worse. I don't know yet.
Koroko: What do you mean you don't know yet? #Definitely for better. It's almost vital#
Kensuke: As I said, Takenaka-san knew us. In other words, she knew we were Oda spies.
Kensuke: I'm not sure what Takenaka-san will do after finding out that Oda spies lurked near Inabayama...
Hiyoko: I believe Takenaka-san said something that she did it out of love towards Mino.
Kensuke: Yeah. She captured Inabayama castle, but she didn't have any ambition of joining Oda or becoming the main lord.
Kensuke: So... she will have to give up Inabayama castle soon, right?
Koroko: Give up Inabayama castle after finally capturing it? It kinda... feels like a waste.
Kensuke: Normal samurai would think so. But don't they call Takenaka-san a weirdo? So it's not impossible for her to make that choice.
Kensuke: Surrender the castle to its original owner, flee and abandon her name... given the circumstances, it would be the choice with the lowest amount of ripples.
She obviously knows that Owari's Oda is aiming for Mino.
Also Hiyo and I were investigating there, and she said she "knows us well".
Knowing about our investigation, she'll be wary of Owari's invasion.
If Owari invades Mino, she'll have fight against it with just Western Mino's Three Great and her own troops.
She's not a dreamer that would think of stopping Owari with that little group.
Then what?
Kensuke: If it's too much for her to hold, she have to abandon it. That way she'll be able to move around freely.
Koroko: I see... but, boss. Will that Tatsuoki-dono allow that?
Kensuke: I wonder... by the way, how high is Takenaka-san's standing at Mino?
Koroko: She's the owner of Bodai castle, but it's not a big one.
Kensuke: Then what about Three Great of Western Mino?
Hiyoko: They're called Three Great, so they're representatives followed by many small and large families in the west.
Kensuke: Hmm..
That means...
Kensuke: Three Great involved in this case have quite a force behind them, so I don't think Tatsuoki is going to easily cut off those three.
Kensuke: But it's different for Takenaka-san. If her land is small, it's easy to cut off all ties with her. She can be made into a lesson for others.
Kensuke: That's why she needs to be mobile...
Her best option to save herself is to abandon the castle and hide... #Or side with Oda#
Kensuke: Let's eat for now... I'll report to Kuon next.
Hiyoko and Koroko: Yes!
Kensuke: That's the situation...
After eating at the diner, I organized my report and visited Kuon.
Kuon: Hmm...
After hearing my report, Kuon started thinking without saying anything.
Kensuke: This is just my guess... but Takenaka-san will probably flee Mino.
Kuon: To let a sage flee? I can't believe that Tatsuoki is Viper's grandson... but that's probably what will happen.
Kuon: By the way, to change the topic a bit... actually, after sending you off, I sent a messenger to Inabayama.
Kensuke: And what's the message?
Kuon: Asking them to sell Inabayama castle to us... I wanted to see their reaction.
Kensuke: Yeah. It's a good move. So, how did they respond?
Kuon: She said she didn't capture the castle out of personal interest. She's still a vassal of Mino's Saitou family. So she won't sell it.
Kensuke: Seriously... but, yeah, I can imagine her saying that...
Kuon: But. This is where the fun part starts... the next day after we got a reply, a new messenger arrived from Mino.
Kensuke: From Mino... from Takenaka-san?
Kuon: No. From Great Three of Western Mino: Andou, Ujie and Inaba. A collective one from all three of them.
Kensuke: Don't tell me...
Kuon: Yeah. That they'll sell it for a high price... how's that? Interesting, right?
Kensuke: Enemies exist on the inside as well as on the outside, huh...
Kuon: What's that?
Kensuke: Basics of war that I heard from a certain girl about...
Kuon: Basics, huh... and it seems that's exactly how the situation ended up becoming.
Kensuke: Yeah... so, it'll probably go as I think.
Kuon: As you think?
Kensuke: Takenaka-san sensed that Great Three made their move, will return the castle to Tatsuoki and flee.
Kuon: I see...
I wonder if a girl that delicate can survive after abandoning her land...
No, she probably has a detailed plan on how to survive. She's an amazing girl that captured Inabayama castle with just sixteen people after all.
But...
Kensuke: Kuon...
Kuon: I don't mind. Do as you please. I'll fully support your idea. #Best wife#
Kensuke: Thanks...
Kuon understood without me saying anything. I'm really glad to have a girl like that around.
Kensuke: I'll leave right away. I'll borrow Hiyo and Koro.
Kuon: They're members of Kensuke squad. Use them as you please.
Kensuke: Thanks. Also, umm...
Kuon: Right. Take this with you.
Kuon: It's my savings. Use them as travel funds. #What a mmorpg sound effect#
Kensuke: Savings...
Kuon: Yuina oversees my official funds, so I can't use them. So don't tell her about this, okay?
Kensuke: Got it. Then, I'll keep it a secret between us.
Kuon: This is all I can do for you. Sorry, Kensuke.
Kensuke: What do you need to apologize for?
Kuon: I initially promised that you just need to stay by my side, but now I'm letting you deal with troubling matters like this...
Kensuke: Hmm... well, I made up my mind. And it's something I suggested myself, so you don't need to worry about it.
Kensuke: I'll do what I can for you... that's what I decided. #Here he goes again. Swag mode activated#
Kuon: But... it hasn't been that long since we first met, and you already helped me so much...
Kensuke: ...What's up all of sudden? Do you have a fever or something?
Kuon: Y, you fool! I have no fever!
Kensuke: Then don't say things like that... it's okay, I'm okay with this.
Kuon: Okay... with this?
Kensuke: I am. I'm your husband, right, Kuon?
Kuon: That's, well. We kinda made that sort of a promise...
Kensuke: Wife's wishes are husband's obligation.
Kensuke: Also. One phrase or one question make you understand ten things at once. Because of that, I'm really enjoying talking with you, Kuon.
Kuon: Enjoy... do you really mean it?
Kensuke: It's fun, yeah! After all, in this world where people don't understand anything even after you tell them ten things, you understand how I feel with just one word. All it takes is just one word.
Kensuke: That's a really precious and happy thing... ah, right. That's right. #Someone's REALLY sick of normal Koihime... But yeah, it's really good#
Kuon: W, w, what is right?
Kensuke: Right, I like Kuon.
Kuon: ...!!
Kensuke: It's fun to be with you. You know a lot of things that I don't, I rely on you a lot, but there are many times when you're completely unreliable, when I just can't leave you alone.
Kensuke: I like you because you're like that, Kuon.
Kensuke: That's why I can do my best. We're humans, so it's really hard to find someone with their way of thinking, way of life and feelings being exactly the same.
Kensuke: That's why I can and will do anything for you, Kuon... I can't be certain about it yet, but can feel it's so.
Kensuke: So, why do you need to apologize? I'm doing this because I want to, if I didn't like something and didn't want to do something, I'd just reject it without hesitation.
Kuon: So you're trying to say... I shouldn't worry about it, since you do as you please.
Kensuke: Right. I'm doing this because I want to. So I would have no regrets.
Kensuke: Of course, I'll carry all responsibilities for it. I won't blame it on you, Kuon.
Kensuke: Well... that's just how men are... though that's just my opinion.
Kuon: You really speak passionately... #That's his good habit#
Kensuke: Haha, I'm just showing off... how was it? Fell in love with me again?
Kuon: I, it's not like I will fall for you just because you're cool. Don't misunderstand!
Kensuke: Really? That's a pity.
After laughing at Kuon's words, I picked up my katana and left.
Kensuke: Well then, Kuon. I'll go kidnap Takenaka-san. #All this talk hid the fact he's going for a new harem member well#
Kuon: Right... be careful. Come back safely. #It'll be way easier if you stop your idiot tsundere wife, Kuon...#
Kensuke: Of course... well then, I'll be going. #Seriously, Yuina is dumb beyond Reiha in this arc#
Kichou: ...
Kuon: Yuina... how long have you been listening for?
Kichou: From about the part about your savings.
Kuon: Mm?! T, that's just something I saved up from what I had on hand. And I gave it all to Kensuke. There's nothing left to confiscate, okay?
Kichou: I wasn't going to confiscate it...
Kuon: I, I see. That's good...
Kichou: You seem distracted...
Kuon: That's not true. It's not, but...
Kuon: Yuina...
Kichou: What?
Kuon: To tell the truth, I kinda...
Kichou: Your chest hurts?
Kuon: H, how did you figure that out?! #Now that's just adorable, she doesn't realize what's going on#
Kichou: Anyone would, after hearing that conversation and looking at you right now, Kuon.
Kuon: I see... how pathetic of me to get sick at a time like this.
Kuon: But, Yuina. If you reveal this to vassals, they'll be in panic. So keep this a secret.
Kichou: Secret, huh... I doubt there'll be a major panic, even if we don't keep it a secret.
Kuon: There's no way. Even with Kensuke around, Oda is still surrounded by enemies. If I fall ill, it'll make an opportunity for other factions.
Kichou: Sigh... she has no resistance and he told her all that, of course she'll end up like this...
Kuon: What are you talking about?
Kichou: It's just that I changed my opinion for better.
Kuon: Oh, about Kensuke? I see, yeah... that's good, I think...
Kichou: Don't look so confused...
Kuon: I, I'm not looking like that!
Kichou: But you have wrinkles on your forehead, you know?
Kuon: Wha?! I, ignore it... I can't be a cute girl anyway. I'm a heir of Oda, it's normal for me to have wrinkles...
Kichou: Yes, yes... Kuon. I'll be going out for a while. I won't be home for a few days, so look after yourself.
Kuon: I don't mind, but... where are you going? #Somewhere an arrogant housewife should NEVER go to#
Kichou: Just some minor business... well then. #Some girls just want to see the world burn#
Kuon: Yeah. Be careful. #Nah, she won't... in comes the neverending chain of fails#
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